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I've got a weakness for anything nautical ... docksiders, bold stripes and of course, sailing. There is nothing like being on the water on a breezy day working the lines and enjoying the peaceful sound of the water slapping alongside the hull. Maybe it's in my DNA as my Dad loved sailing and was in the Navy during WWII.

Dad joined up after graduating high school like most guys, instead of waiting to be drafted. He chose the Navy because he wanted to sleep in a dry bed and eat three square meals a day. Now that's smart thinking! It was also a natural choice because during his adolescence Dad spent time on the Long Island Sound where he and a buddy fashioned a canoe into a sailboat with a stick and homemade sail from a bed sheet. Dad was fortunate to be stationed in Miami, where the Navy patrolled the Atlantic waters off our southeastern shore for German submarines, even sinking one. He served nearly four years until the war ended. There was no one-year tour-of-duty back then; you were in for the duration. During his service, he experienced a Florida hurricane and came home with a tan!

These cookies were decorated using two stencils and two design methods. Airbrushing with the striped stencil creates the background of the cookie, and royal icing using the anchor stencil gives the cookies added dimension.

When I hear a Glen Campbell hit, it takes me back to a special week in New York City. It was the summer of 1969 and my grandmother who we called Mom, chose to spend her only week of vacation with two of her granddaughters. My cousin and I were both age 12 and I remember thinking how nice of her to spend her time off with us. She lived in the Borough of Queens and she wanted to show the two of us around New York City. Well, after just one day my cousin was homesick and my uncle came to pick her up. She surely missed out because it was a memorable week.

Every day my grandfather drove my grandmother and me in his taxicab into the City. We took the Circle Line boat cruise down the Hudson and around the Statue of Liberty, where my grandmother had immigrated nearly 50 years earlier, visited the Empire State Building and took a bus tour around the city. The big stand out was the day we went to Radio City Music Hall, the only time I have been there. To this day, I remember the blue and white floral sundress I wore with the cutout in the back. At that time, Radio City showed a daily matinee and evening movie, followed by a performance of The Rockettes. Now they only perform at Christmastime. The movie showing that summer was Glen Campbell in his debut acting role with John Wayne in True Grit. My eyes were naturally drawn to the handsome, young actor as opposed to the crusty character with the eye patch played by John Wayne. The movie was great and I was mesmerized by the performance of The Rockettes. After the show, we had a late lunch at The Plaza Hotel and my grandmother, so proud of her family said to the waiter in her Scottish brogue, 'This is my granddaughter.' I remember being slightly embarrassed yet touched by her pride. All fond memories and sad to think of another musical icon in rock-n-roll heaven.

Still on a Lilly Pulitzer kick, these palm tree cookies were a bit of an experiment. Instead of stencils, airbrush colors were streaked across the cookie in no particular pattern.

Fashion during the 1960's was one of extremes. The classic look of our elegant first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy wearing A-line skirts, pillbox hats and pumps appeared in early 1960. By the middle of the decade as the country shed its wholesome image, a new style emerged. Twiggy, fresh from London, modeled mini-skirts, go-go boots and big hoop earrings. There was another style popular with the posh set of Nantucket and The Hamptons. Only sold in boutiques in quaint, resort towns and bursting with vibrant colors, the shift emerged designed by Lilly Pulitzer. She may be considered the Kate Spade of her day. Inspired by her family's citrus groves of Southern Florida, Lilly designed simple, sleeveless dresses in colorful summer cottons in bright pinks, greens, blues and yellows. The distinctive fabric splashed with lemons, pineapples, sailboats, seashells, flamingos and palm trees could be seen from across the room. Some were adorned with lace detail on the collar or ran vertical along the front of the dress.

(Source: Lilly Pulitzer)

By the time the 1980's came along with mid-calf, pleated skirts, shoulder pads and paisley bow ties, the Lilly look faded away. Since fashion tends to go in cycles, Lilly Pulitzer has made a comeback with updated designs. It is beyond popular with the preppy set and has branched out beyond dresses into accessories. It is not as exclusive these days being sold online and in department stores, yet still pricey.

Now onto cookies …. These cookies are Lilly Pulitzer-inspired. They were easy and fun to decorate using the airbrushing and stencil method. This preppy is anxious to decorate more Lilly cookies and you may be seeing similar designs in future posts.

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